Govt to probe Kanindo's fake export documents<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo promised
\nyesterday to investigate a potential rescuer of the debt-ridden
\nKanindo Group which has been linked to the issue of fake export
\ndocuments.<\/p>\n
\"We are investigating the allegations,\" he said, in response
\nto questions about 'the fake export document scandal.'<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists following his meeting with Minister of
\nFinance Mar'ie Muhammad, Tunky said that the government is
\nlooking into what measures need to be taken to rescue the ailing
\nKanindo Group.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Tunky said that he and the Minister of
\nFinance spoke at length about different ways to settle the
\nKanindo Group's bad debts to state banks Bank Bumi Daya (BBD) and
\nBank Pembangunan Indonesia (Bapindo).<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, we cannot not discuss them with the press,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A textile businessman, one of possible rescuers of the Kanindo
\nGroup, was alleged to have issued fake export documents to
\nsupport his loan application at Bapindo. He was accused of
\nraising loans to finance the rescue plan through illegal
\nprocedures.<\/p>\n
The businessman, together with former Salim group executive,
\nYohannes Kotjo, signed an agreement recently to rescue the ailing
\nKanindo Group. The Kanindo group is a consortium of textile
\ncompanies owned by Robby Tjahyadi, who is reported to have debts
\namounting to approximately Rp 500 billion at Bapindo and BBD.<\/p>\n
The group of the businessmen agreed to inject fresh funds of
\naround Rp 850 million (US$390,600) per day within six months
\nbeginning Aug. 1 to prevent the Kanindo Group from collapsing.<\/p>\n
Achmad Dakyan Su'ud, an executive of Bapindo, neither
\nconfirmed nor denied the allegation, saying that the charge
\nshould be addressed to the directorate general of customs and
\nexcise duties.<\/p>\n
Suhardjo, the director general of customs and excise duties,
\nsaid that he needs at least a week to ascertain whether his
\nofficials were involved in the alleged impropriety.<\/p>\n
\"If our men were involved, they will be punished according to
\nexisting rules,\" he said when asked to confirm the allegation.<\/p>\n
According to a consultant who insisted on anonymity, the
\ngarment businessman used false export documents to support his
\ncredit applications to Bapindo.<\/p>\n
One of the export documents produced by the consultant to back
\nup his claim stipulates the export of 20,600 jackets, their FOB
\nvalue, the names of the exporting firm and the importing company
\nbased in Singapore as well as the name of the ship which carried
\nthe goods.<\/p>\n
Signatures<\/p>\n
The document dated April 19, 1994 bears three signatures, two
\nof Bapindo executives and the third of an executive at the
\ngarment exporting company. It also bears the stamped name of a
\ncustoms official, Nasrul Abdullah, but without his signature.<\/p>\n
The consultant claimed that the name of the ship stipulated in
\nthe document is also fake since records showed that no freighter
\nusing such a name loaded export goods at Tanjung Priok port on
\nthe stated date.<\/p>\n
The consultant also alleged that the Singapore-based buyer was
\nactually a subsidiary of an Indonesian garment exporter who runs
\nseveral other textile businesses in the country.<\/p>\n
The consultant alleged that the Indonesian garment exporter,
\nwho lives in Singapore, obtained at least US$7.64 million in
\nloans from Bapindo related to 12 fake export documents on April
\n19 alone.<\/p>\n
Dakyan, the deputy head of the bureau of directors of the
\nscandal-ridden Bapindo, questioned the credibility of the
\nconsultant, but confirmed that two of the signatories to the
\ndocument were Bapindo officials.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that his bank relies on information provided
\nby the customs and excise office about the delivery of exports.<\/p>\n
\"It is almost impossible for us to carry out field
\ninvestigations to verify the authenticity of export documents,\"
\nhe said, adding that the validity of export documents should
\nnormally be ascertained by the directorate general of customs and
\nexcise.<\/p>\n
Suhardjo promised to investigate his man's possible
\ninvolvement in the alleged manipulation.<\/p>\n
\"Give me a week,\" he told reporters at his office.<\/p>\n
Three former presidents of Bapindo are now on trial for their
\nalleged involvement in the widely published credit scandal
\ncentering around Eddy Tansil, the boss of the chemical-based
\nGolden Key business group.<\/p>\n
Tansil was recently sentenced to 17 years in jail for his role
\nin the scam, which cost the state bank an estimated $448 million.<\/p>\n
The former manager of Bapindo's Jakarta branch was sentenced
\nto nine years in jail for his involvement. (hen)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-probe-kanindos-fake-export-documents-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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